Once again, Marcus Fabrics was thrilled to be a sponsor of the ever-popular Road to California Quilters’ Conference and Showcase, also known as Road2CA. We provided the $750 cash prize in the Best Miniature Quilt category. The winning entry, Dans les Bains de Maroc, was created by Robin Gausebeck, who was inspired by Moroccan motifs on wallpaper in her master bathroom.
To see more of the quilts, visit RoadCongratulations to Robin, and to all of the Road2CA winners — see you next year!
Did you catch this gorgeous quilt in the new issue of McCall’s Quilting (March/April 2014)? This pic doesn’t quite do it justice, but it’s a perfect design for so many of our PRIMO PLAIDS…or MOLLY B’s CLASSIC WOVENS…or PRAIRIE DOBBIES & PRAIRIE WOVENS… Quilt designer Sherri Bain Driver mentions that she used mostly flannels (think Primos) yet smooth cottons will work as well. We love her creative cutting and piecing of plaids and stripe, and the subtle yet colorful result.
We received this note through Judie Rothermel, from quilter Lars Rune in Norway. He recreated his own very unique version of Marcus Fabrics’ Civil War TRIBUTE quilt. He wrote to Judie and submitted this photo, explaining:
It’s machine pieced and hand quilted — I really love hand quilting. I used YLI hand quilting threads and auditioned the thread to match the prints as best as possible.
We caught up with Pam and got some extra insights into her new PRAIRIE STITCHES line, and her love for all things Prairie! Here’s what she shared…
You might be surprised to learn where fabric designers get inspirations for new fabric collections. I looked to my collection of antique quilts and vintage fabrics for Prairie Stitches.
The main floral print in the line came from a vintage piece of fabric I picked up at an antique show several years ago.
What drew me to it was its simplistic, country styling which is at the heart of my prairie style. The floral motif is about as large a floral as I like to use, and I started to image it in other colors.
With some fabrics, imagining the possibilities can be the most difficult part, and that is at the heart of the job of fabric design. I knew what I wanted the end result to be, and worked hand in hand with Marcus’ design director, Faye Burgos, to make it happen.
Notice the original antique fabric has a solid dark brown background.
I decided to add a little texture to the backgrounds of my prints which gives a soft, subtle feel to an otherwise flat background.
There are slight differences in the leaves and flowers on each of the prints, to best show off the floral motif on the different colored backgrounds.
I’m just delighted about the way it all turned out!
I’m working on the quilt I designed for this collection, called Ada’s Prairie Stitches, and loving how it’s all coming together! Both the fabric collection,and my new pattern will be in quilt shops in April!
Thanks, Pam! Visit Pam Buda online at HeartspunQuilts.com
Clearly, with another storm now in progress along the east coast here in the US, we’re all on “snow-verload”, so for just a minute, let’s enjoy some spring inspiration, courtesy of our design director, Laura Berringer…she’s seeing lots of butterflies in the forecast, from Vanessa Bruno runway, Paris Fashion Week, and from House Beautiful magazine, butterflies mix with botanicals… I wonder if we’ll see the trend reflected in any of Laura’s upcoming collections…
Moving on to Redlands, Pati checks in with the Painted Lady Quilt Shop. It’s a true haven for Judie Rothermel fans: a customer work-in-progress featuring Pine Tree Lodge (upper left); a full wall of her prints (lower right photo), and Kerri, who owns the shop, reports that 30 people already signed up for the Civil War: PEACE & UNITY Block of the Month (lower left). At upper right is Faye Burgos’ LOVE & GLORY. Judging from these pics, it’s probably safe to say that combinations of blue with red are probably popular in Redlands as well!
OK, as much as we’ve complained about this winter in the Northeast (and across the country), as much as we’ve shoveled and slipped and sighed, at some point you have to appreciate nature’s pure beauty, in the midst of its fury! With that in mind, enjoy this calming scene of a family of robins, captured by Marcus Fabrics’ president of the Retail Division, Stephanie Dell ‘Olio, from her New Jersey home.
So, in between the complaints, let’s remember to take time to appreciate nature.
…and save this post until July, when you’ll appreciate the visual even more ; )
This week, our Director of Marketing & Advertising, Pati Violick, happily escaped the unpredictable east coast weather, venturing out to sunny CA for a road trip with sales rep Norbert Kaufman. Here’s a peek at what she found…
First, a visit with Michelle of Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, CA (shown here with Norbert). Pretty displays incuded a hexie quilt (a Pati Violick favorite!), crocheted creatures, and fabric bolts from brights to deep darks!
Next stop: Temecula Quilt Co. in Temecula, CA, where charming miniatures (another Pati fave), a colorful Dear Jane, and one of our finalists in the Just Judie competition were beautifully displayed…Big Judie fans here at Temecula!
If you’re in the area, stop by to see the latest Marcus collections, or visit them online! Pati, wishing you safe travels back to NY, where we’re battling brand-new snow and ice…on second thought, you might want to visit a few more shops out there first!
Whether you’re a pro football fan or not, you can’t help but notice the Super Bowl frenzy, and it’s magnified for us here in NYC. In fact, from the weather forecast to the NJ-NY “rivalry” to the game itself, you almost feel left out if you’re NOT talking about it on some level! This is a view of Broadway, just steps from our offices:
What about you, quilting friends? Are you into the Big Game? Will you spend February 2 around the big screen with friends and food, or will you use the day as a creative getaway and quilt the day away? Maybe you’re just now finishing up some PRIMO PLAID quilts (or scarves!) to stay cozy no matter where you are…let us know how you’ll spend the day!
Looking for the perfect project to welcome Spring? Consider this pretty quilt designed by Homestead Hearth, featuring Faye Burgos’ beautiful SUBTLE SKIES collection. ”Gentle Dawn” is fully patterned in the McCall’s Quilting March/April 2014 issue. It’s beginner friendly, and a kit is available. We love it for a guest bedroom, but once you sew it up, you’ll want to treat yourself!